Antifungal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Phenylalanine Conjugated Cholic Acid Salts & Tyrosine Conjugated Cholic Acid Salts against Candida Species

Silver Nanoparticles were synthesized by reducing and stabilizing Silver nitrate solution using two different amino acids, phenylanine conjugated cholic acid salts and tyrosine conjugated cholic acid salts. Stable nano suspensions of the silver were obtained by adding defined volumes of the reducing agent. The shape and size distribution of the stabilized silver nanoparticle were characterized by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The absorption spectrum of the silver nanoparticles showed a Surface Plasmon Absorption band at 487nm  and average size of the nanoparticle was calculated as 10-15nm by transmission electron microscopy studies indicating the presence of  spherical and nanosized silver. The antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles was tested against 8 strains of Candida species. These organisms were speciated by standard biochemical tests. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by microbroth dilution method using Mueller Hinton broth and RPMI. The nanoparticles exhibited inhibitory effect against the tested Candida species at different concentrations and majority of the species were inhibited at 0.43µg/ml. The present study indicates that silver nanoparticles have considerable antifungal activity and deserves further analysis with large number of species and isolates for clinical use.